Mail-bag catcher.



PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908,

P. B. SOUTHWORTH.

MAIL BAG GATGHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19', 19.08.

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PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908 P. B. SQUTH'WORTH. MAIL BAG GATCHER. APPLICATION rum) MAR. 19. 1908.

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PRESTON B. SOUTHWORTH, OF KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON.

MAIL-BAGzCATOI-IER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23, 1908.

Application filed March 19, 1908. Serial No. 422,141).

This invention relates to improvements in I mail bag catchers.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character whereby the mail bag may be taken from a fast-moving train without injury to the bag or its contents.

With this object in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described and articularly pointed out in the appended c aims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective viewof a mail bag catching apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention, showing in full lines the position of the parts to catch the bag, and in dotted lines the position of the parts after the bag is taken; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view; and Fi 4 is a detail view of the bagcatching hool r and means for holding the same in operative position. i In the embodiment of the invention I provide a supporting boss, or standard, which is preferably formed of tubular metal and tapers from its lower end toward its upper end, as shown. The standard is formed in two longitudinal sections, the meeting edges of which are provided with apertured ears, 2, through which are inserted fastening bolts, by means of which the sections of the standard are held together. On the lower end of the standard is formed a suitable base, 3, by

means of which the standard is anchored or suitably fastened to the ground or other support. The standard is further provided with inclined braces, 4.

Revolubly mounted on the upper'end of the standard 1 is'a hollow tapering cap, 5,

having on its upper end a hollow spherical head, 6. The cap, 5, and head, 6, are preferably formed in longitudinal sections which are bolted together in the same manner as the standard. The cap is provided on its lower end with a radially projecting-annular flange, 7, which isadapted to be seated on a similar flange, 8, and around said flanges is arranged a collar, 9, by means of which the cap is revolubly secured to the upper end of the standard. On one side of the spherical head, 6, and projecting outwardly and downwardly therefrom is a tubular guide arm 10, the up er end of which communicates with the ho low head.

In the standard 1, substantially midway between its ends, is arranged a diaphragm, 12, which is formed by segmental partitions arranged in each half of the standard as shown, and within said standard below the diaphragm, 12, and extending between the same and the base, 3, is a guide tube, 13, in which is slidably mounted a series of springholding buckets, 14, in which is seated a series of coiled springs, 15, said springs being of diflerent tension andrang ing from a very heavy spring in the lower bucket-to a light spring in the upper bucket. Through said buckets and springs is arranged a centrally disposed connecting rod, 16, the upper end of which projects through a small aperture formed in the diaphragm, 12, and is provided with an eye, 17, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

The upper end of each spring is bent to form a reduced rod-engaging eye which is disposed in the center of the upper end of each of the coils and serves to hold said upper ends of the springs in concentric relation to the rod, the lower ends of said springs being held in place by the buckets in which they are seated. The lower end of the connecting rod is provided with a head by means of which it is secured to the lowermost bucket. By this arrangement when the connecting rod is pulled upwardly, the uppermost spring will e compressed against the inside of the diaphragm, 12, and each successive spring will 6 compressed between its bucket and the next bucket above. Secured to the eye onthe upper end of the connecting rod, 16, is a flexible connection, 18,'which may be in the form of a cable or chain, said connection extending upwardly through the upper portion of the standard and through the cap, 5, and into the tubular head, 6,-where it passes over a guide pulley, 19, and extends through the tubular support ing arm, 10, connected to the head. To theouter end of the connection, 18, is secured a bag-catching hook, 20, which is adapted to engage and take the bag from its support on the moving train.

In order that the hook may be held in the position to engage and take the bag from the train, I provide a supporting arm, 21 which is pivotally connected at its inner end between a pair of apertured lugs, 22, arranged on one side of the standard, said arm being held in an operative position by means of a removable supporting pin, 23, which is inserted through an aperture in the lugs, 22, and through an aperture in the arm, 21, adj acent to its pivoted end. By removing the supporting pin, 23, the arm, 21, will drop to an inoperative position along side the lower portion of the standard.

The outer end of the arm, 21 is provided with a reduced flattened end to which is pivotally connected a pair of spring metal hookholding lates, 24, between which the hook, 20, is hei d in an operative position to engage the bag as the train passes said hook. The plates, 24, are provided on their inner sides, adjacent to their outer ends, with pairs of laterally projecting studs,'25, between which the outer portion of the hook is detachably held, the inner end of said hook being provided with an eye to receive the outer end of the flexible connection, 18, said 'eye being enaged between laterally projecting studs, 26, iormed on the inner side of the spring-holding plates, 24, midway between their ends.

In the operation of the device to catch a mail bag, the hook 20 is engaged with the studs between the spring-metal holdingplates, 24, so that its free end will project in the direction of the approaching train, said lates and the arm, 21, thus supporting the 100k in proper position to engage the bag as the train passes. As soon as the hook is engaged with the bag, it will be pulled from between the spring metal plates by the force of the moving bag, said force or momentum swinging the cap and head on the upper end of the standard around in the direction of the movement of the bag, which will be gradually brought to a stop by the springs in the lower end of the standard, which are connected to the hook through the flexible connection, 18, as hereinbefore described, thus preventing the bag or its contents from being injured, which would occur should the bag 7 be suddenly jerked from a fast-moving train and abruptly stopped.

Any desired number of stop springs may be provided, and springs of various tensions may be provided according to the speed of the trains from which the bags are to be removed, thus providing for the catching and stripping of the bag without injury at whatever speed the train may be moving.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In a mail bag catcher, a supporting standard, a series of bag stopping s rmgs arranged therein, a bag-engagin hoo r, a flexible connection between said 00k and said springs, and means to hold the hook in posit1on to take the mail bag from the moving train, substantially as described.

2. In a mail bag catcher, a supporting standard, a series of bag stopping springs arranged in the lower portion thereof, a cap revolubly mounted on the upper end of said standard, a bag-engaging hook, a flexible connection between sa1d hook and springs, a sup orting arm connected to said standard to etachably hold the hook in o erative position thereon, substantially as escribed.

3. In a mail bag catching apparatus, a tubular supporting standard, a series of bagstopping springs arran ed in the lower portion of said standard, uckets arranged between said springs and adapted to receive the same, a connecting rod arran ed through lubly mounted on the upper end of the standard, a hollow head on the upper end of said cap, a diagonal guide arm connected to said head, a bag-engagim hook, a flexible connection arranged in said guide arm and ada ted to extend through said head and cap an the upper portion of said standard and to be secured to said connectin rod, and means to detachably support sai hook in operative position, substantially as described.

4. In a bag catching apparatus, a tubular tapered supporting standardformed in longitudinal separable sections, a similarly formed cap revolubly mounted on the upper end of sa1d standard, a hollow head on said cap, a diagonal guide arm connected to said head, a bag-engaging hook, a series of bag-sto pin springs arranged in the lower portion 0 sai standard, a flexible connection between said hook and springs, a hook sup orting arm pivotally mounted on one side of said standard, means to hold said arm in o erative position, and spring metal hook-ho ding plates on the outer end of said arm adapted to hold said hook in an o erative position, substantially as described 5. In a bag catching apparatus, a tubular said buckets and springs, a tubu ar cap revosupporting standard, a series of ba stop ing to engage the bag on a moving train, sub- 10 springs arranged in said standar buc ets stantially as described.

arranged between each of said springs, a con- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set necting rod secured at its lower end to the my hand in presence of two subscribing witlowermost bucket and extending through nesses.

said buckets and springs, a bag-catchin PRESTON B. SOUTHWORTH. hook, a flexible connection between sai Witnesses: hook and the upper end of said connecting I. L. WHrrwoR'rn,

rod, and means to hold said hook in position J. B. MELTON. 

